From Harold, Child's Age 14 - 04/22/12 - IP#: 46.129.110.xxx Click here to reply
Hello everyone, my son Jake has gotten really fat the past 2 years. Until he was 12 he was actually quite skinny! But the past 2 years he has been piling on weight. I guess he weighs around 200 lbs now. My wife and I try to make healthy food, and our other son does have a healthy weight, but Jake keeps sneaking in junk food and candy. He also goes to burger king and other junk food restaurants with his friends after school. I really hate to see that my son has become a lazy couch potato. His clothes are way too tight and je just hangs around the house all day with his fat belly sticking out. Someone got any tips to make him lose weight?
Reply from Annie, Child's Age 16 - 05/22/12 - IP#: 204.63.137.xxx I think your 14 year son is reacting to the fact that you are unhappy with his weight. When you refer to him as a "lazy couch potato" with his "fat belly sticking out", your attitude comes across loud and clear. I'm sure Jake picks it up too, espcially if you compare him to your other son. At age 14, your son is looking for ways to establish his own identity. He knows you don't like him being fat, so he'll get fat just to show you that you can't control his life! Sure, it doesn't make sense to us adults, but it's the way many 14 year old boys think. Plus, if his friends are all junk food junkies, that's what he's going to want to do, too. At his age, peers are more influential than parents.
Reply from Ashlie - 05/04/12 - IP#: 63.228.115.xxx It might be helpful to first talk to your son to find out if there are any underlying reasons why he might be using food for comfort. Is he under stress, does he feel sad or is he being teased at school? These could be reasons why he is sneaking food. Have an open discussion about his feelings about his weight and if he wants to lose weight. Then, come up with a plan together where you can all support him. Eating healthy meals and doing activities together as a family, and encouraging his friends to support his efforts to lose weight can also help.
